I am looking at the appropriateness and effectiveness of using watersheds as jurisdictional bases for governance structures in the context of the American federalist system. My case study is the Rhode Island Rivers Council, which was created by the Rhode Island State Legislature in 1991. The Rivers Council is charged with developing rivers policies and a rivers classification plan for Rhode Island and recognizing local watershed councils to implement the rivers policies. As background for my case study, I am researching past and current experiences with regional trans-boundary resource management. How these experiences have been evaluated in the literature and general literature concerning the advantages and disadvantages of watershed management is providing me with a framework for analyzing the Rivers Council. My research and interpretation will enable me to make recommendations concerning the structure of the Rhode Island Rivers Council and its place in government.